2019: favorite records

In the order released.

The Twilight Sad — It Won/t Be Like This All the Time [gothic rock]
Boy Harsher — Careful [darkwave]
Massimo Volume — Il nuotatore [post-rock]
King Midas Sound — Solitude [dark ambient, poetry]
DIÄT — Positive Disintegration [post-punk]
FET.NAT — Le Mal [no wave]
Patricia — Heavy Merging (EP) [acid techno]
SASAMI — SASAMI [indie rock]
Shlohmo — The End [glitch hop]
Bogdan Raczynski — Rave ‘Till You Cry [drill and bass]
Fontaines D.C. — Dogrel [post-punk]
Otoboke Beaver (おとぼけビ～バ～) — Itekoma Hits (いてこまヒッツ) [hardcore punk]
Tim Hecker — Anoyo [drone, gagaku]
black midi — Schlagenheim [experimental rock, math rock]
Hatchie — Keepsake [dream pop]
Thom Yorke — ANIMA [glitch pop]
Drab Majesty — Modern Mirror [gothic rock]
Black Country, New Road — Athen’s, France and Sunglasses (singles) [experimental rock]
The Murder Capital — When I Have Fears [post-punk]
Algiers — Can the Sub_Bass Speak? (single) [avant-garde jazz, poetry]
HTRK — Venus in Leo [ambient pop]
Bat for Lashes — Lost Girls [synthpop]
Caroline Polachek — Pang [art pop]
Floating Points — Crush [future garage, IDM]
Matana Roberts — Coin Coin Chapter Four: Memphis [avant-garde jazz, poetry]
Sudan Archives — Athena [art pop]
Andy Stott — It Should Be Us [dub techno, dubstep]
FKA twigs — Magdalene [art pop]
Have a Nice Life — Sea of Worry [gothic rock]
Life on Venus — Odes to the Void [shoegaze]
Special Request — Vortex, Bedroom Tapes, Offworld, and Zero Fucks [acid techno, ambient techno, breakbeat, jungle]

Enjoy.

Bat for Lashes — Lost Girls

Release date: September 6, 2019
Genres: art pop, dream pop, synthpop
Highlight: The Hunger

Somehow I heard about Natasha Khan‘s work for a long time, but this is her first record I listened. I must say, I’m in love with this album. From what I understand, this is an experimentation from her. It is brilliant. Some of the best synthpop ideas fill this album. But more than that, you will hear Elizabeth Fraser-like heavenly vocals and Cocteau Twins‘esque overall atmosphere. Well done.

HTRK — Venus in Leo

SASAMI

There is something about this album I like very much. At times I recalled Stereolab, at times Mitski, and Curve, Pavement, Women. But it’s more a “spiritual” connection. Overall, very good.

“Thought I was the only one. Turned out I was everyone.“

Yawn

So good. Like coming back to the early 90’s slowcore/dream pop scene. Nostalgic Red House Painters’esque basslines.

Not a complaint, but I did notice that And Then There’s You is a child of Bedhead’s Haywire.

Anyway, I like both a lot.

Departure

The sound on the first track is unbelievable. Overall, very good effort. The cover song is great too.

Ex:Re

Elena Tonra’s solo album is wonderful. There is not a weak song on the album. I must say I prefer it much more than Daughter’s work. There are influences of Arab Strap, The National, Radiohead, PJ Harvey’s “Is This Desire?”, other names I struggle to recall. It is very eclectic and enjoyable, I highly recommend you to listen. It’s a shame I found it with a lag.